crunch

bone-crunching

Extremely fierce, violent, harsh, or of great impact. There was a bone-crunching collision between the two cyclists on the road.The two teams played a bone-crunching game last night.

caught in the crunch

To have been the victim of difficult circumstances or pressures, especially financial ones and often those that are outside of one's control. Many small businesses caught in the crunch of the recession were forced to close or are barely staying open.When next year's budget is announced by the government, lower earners and public services are likely to be the ones caught in the crunch.

crunch (the) numbers

To compile, calculate, and/or analyze a large amount of numerical data, especially as relates to finance. We've been crunching the numbers for hours, and I just don't see how we'll be able to afford another child!This new computer crunches numbers faster than any of us could even dream of!

crunch time

A critical period of time characterized by a heightened pressure to succeed, usually at or near the end of a given situation or undertaking. Okay, we've got two minutes to tie the game—it's crunch time, guys!

feel the crunch

crunch someone or something up

to break someone or something up into pieces. That machine will crunch you up. Stay away from it!A number of blows with the hammer crunched up the rocks into pebbles.Try to crunch the larger chunks up.

if/when it comes to the crunch

if you talk about what someone will do if it comes to the crunch, you mean what they will do if a situation becomes serious or they have to make an important decision If it comes to the crunch, will she play well enough to win?Don't worry. Ben will be right there with us when it comes to the crunch.

crunch numbers

Perform numerous calculations or process a large amount of numerical data. For example, Preparing John's presentation to the Federal Reserve Board required many hours of crunching numbers . This term originated with the computer age and indeed still applies mostly to the operations of computers. [Slang; second half of 1900s]

crunch time

A period when pressure to succeed is great, often toward the end of an undertaking. For example, It's crunch time-we only have two more days to finish. This term employs crunch in the sense of "a critical situation or test." [Slang; 1970s]

budget squeeze

and budget crunch

n. a situation where there is not enough money in the budget. Facing another budget squeeze, the legislators were forced to put off their pay increase. If it wasn’t for the budget crunch, I’d get a good raise this year.

A fleet of barges were coming lazily on, some sideways, some head first, some stern first; all in a wrong-headed, dogged, obstinate way, bumping up against the larger craft, running under the bows of steamboats, getting into every kind of nook and corner where they had no business, and being crunched on all sides like so many walnut-shells; while each with its pair of long sweeps struggling and splashing in the water looked like some lumbering fish in pain.

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